The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-21
THE WHITE-HAIRED HEROES
Indiana's Veterans of the Mexican War
Hold Their Biennial Reunion.
They Visit the Legislative Halls, Dine To-
gether, Talk Over Old Times and
Have Happy Day.

1t mas oeen TWO years since the veterans or the
Mexican war held q reunion and this fact made
the gathering of yesterday all the more inter
esting. There are in the State about 400 sur
vivors of the war, and out of the number not
over fifty were in the city yesterday. The small
attendance is not attributed to waning of in
terest among the old heroes in their State asso-
citation, but to the fact that nearly all of them
have reached such an age that they cannot we'll
leave home There are but few of these who
did attend yesterday that are not far down the
shady side of life. OF the fifty there were but
numerous canes and crutches told that it will
be but few more years until there will be no
reunion of Mexican soldiers
General Manson, who is looked upon as their
leader, arrived in the city on Tuesday, and per-
sonally welcomed the veterans at the Grand
Hotel as they came in on Wednesday evening
and yesterday morning. Instead of holding a
session yesterday forenoon, it decided to
pay visit to the General Assembly in body
This was done, with General Manson as guide
They we're given the privileges of the floor of
both branches of the Assembly The Senate
was visited first, and they were admitted to the
House just before the ballot for United States
Senator began. They remained silent and inter-
ested spectators of the proceedings until the ad-
journment when they returned to the Grand
Hotel where they sat down to an elegant dinner
prepared especially for them.
At o'clock they assembled in the Circuit
Court room. Among those present were John
B. Grover and l.. L. McFadden, Logansport;
Robert Davis. James Rale. Paul CARPENTER, ?.
A. Long. W. Huffman, John Helm, o. a. p.
Brady Indianapolis; j. A. Barnes, New Provi-
dehce: Pleasant Cole, Needham; George W.
Patterson, Yorktown; a. P. Stage. Lebanon; J.
L. Kephart, Moreantown; Charles Stoker, Mar
N. Mckinney. Keppert Charles Carr,
Bloomington; Robert Cawf1inger, Bridgeport;
James Silver, Evansville; T. j. McMurry,
Lebanon; Gen. NJ D. Manson, Charlottesville;
| AIcClain. John McKinny, Gen. McGinnis, James
Henry, j. j. Classify, Henry Day. William Hall,
T. J. Atkins, Indianapolis; NJ L. Paulis, Green
field; Riley Colegvort. Lebanon; G. w. Gibson
Folsom, Bowling Green; J. L. Martz, Shelby
| vile.
After prayer by DR.. Day, of this city, Mayor
| Denny delivered address of welcome. He
| hoped they would in the future come together
| more frequently.
| General Manson responded to the address n
| an appropriate speech 1t afforded the associa-
alton much pleasure, he was sure, to meet
in Indianapolis, because the veterans
were always well treated here.
| There was much indignation, he said, because
| the Senate, during the last session of Congress,
| had killed the pension bill originating in the
| House by striking out the enacting clause The
| bill that has since originated in the House. and
| passed that body. he said, was not what the sol
diers desired. but he believed it was the best
| they would ever get, and thought they should
| accept 1t without murmur. 1t provides that
| all Mexican soldiers over sxtytwo years of age
| shall be entitled to pension, provided they are
| not drawing pension for disability Incurred
during the Rebellion; and it further provides
| that all survivors of the Mexican war who were
disabled in that war shall be entitled to a pen
sion, though they may be under sxty-two years
| of age.
| follows:
President-General NJ. D. Manson Charlottesville
| observation-disclosures James B. Mulkey, Blooming
ton. and s. L. McEadden Logansport.
Secretary-John Sullivan, Indianapolis.
Treasurer-General George F. McGinnis, Indian
apols.
Governor Gray and ex Governor Porter wer
invited to address the association at the evenip,
session, but, to the disappointment of all. nethe
was present In their absence, r. c. j. Pen
dleton who is Mexican by birth. entertained
the vets with a talk on Mexico, an,
by exhibiting a very interesting collection
Of views Of the principal cities of Mexico
and their buildings. Since the last reunion O
the veterans he had paid a visit to Mexico, an,
was made bearer by the President of Mexico O
beautiful badge to General Manson. This b
presented to the General
Appropriate memorials we're adopted on tn
death of John NJ Lord. of the Third Regimen
of Indiana Volunteers who died in st. JOSEPH
county last October, and DR.. Will r. Sherod, O
the Second Indiana Regiment, who died at JET
fersonville in April last The association ad
journed, to meet in this city the second week il
January, 1885,